We tried a massage at Parc aux Orchidées

I have to admit, this is a first for us. We usually write about specific destinations, places, or hikes here in Guadeloupe. This time, though, I thought I would switch things up and share something a little different. Today, I’m going to tell you about an experience Mélanie and I had: a massage at Parc aux Orchidées in Pointe-Noire, Guadeloupe.

Writing a short article about an experience like this may seem a little unusual, but I think it could genuinely help locals looking for a good place to relax and spend quality time as a couple, as well as visitors hoping to do the same.

In case you’re wondering, this is not a sponsored post. If it were, we would always say so clearly, as required under France’s law of June 9, 2023. The content of this article and the opinions expressed here are entirely our own. We paid the full price for both of our visits to the spa at Parc aux Orchidées.

For another lovely place to explore, take a look at Maison de la Banane in Trois-Rivières!

Let me tell you how we discovered the place. I’ll start with the massage services at Parc aux Orchidées, although there is much more to it than that. We’ll cover the practical details at the end of the article. The story behind our first visit is also a little special: I was looking for somewhere to propose to Mélanie ahead of our wedding, planned for August 2025. I had already heard about Parc aux Orchidées, especially its massages and peaceful setting, so I decided to make a reservation and experience it for myself.

As I mentioned earlier, Mélanie and I wanted to spend some quality time together, so we chose a package that included 30 minutes in the Jacuzzi and a one-hour massage. Needless to say, we felt wonderful afterward. On our first visit, we were immediately charmed by the tropical garden. I won’t go into every detail here, but its history is fascinating. It was created more than 40 years ago by Jean-Claude Rancé, a local man with an extensive knowledge of Guadeloupe’s wild orchids. He turned it into a small, welcoming garden filled with beautiful orchids, other flowers, and several interesting trees. Nathalie and Arnaud, the current owners, took over the garden in 2016. Arnaud knows it extremely well and gave us a free 15-minute tour packed with interesting explanations, which was a lovely touch.

From the moment we arrived, the appeal of the place was obvious: it is simple, surrounded by nature, and filled with birdsong. We met Arnaud and Nathalie, who gave us a brief introduction before showing us to the Jacuzzi room. Honestly, we felt comfortable right away. After 30 minutes in the Jacuzzi and a cup of tea, we were ready for our massage.

I had kept the two massage therapists informed about the proposal. Once Mélanie had changed, one of them could bring me the ring at the end of our massages. For this first visit, we chose a 90-minute Lomi Lomi massage. We stepped into an airy wooden room overlooking the pool. It was exactly what we had hoped for: quiet, relaxing, and softly filled with background music. The 90-minute massage was genuinely exceptional, and both therapists were exactly what we were looking for.

I have to admit, I started to feel a little nervous as the moment to propose approached. Nathalie had prepared a beautiful arrangement of flowers, vines, and leaves, with the ring box nestled inside. Mélanie was over the moon, and the setting could not have been better for a proposal. And yes, she said yes!

We enjoyed our first experience so much that we decided to return, this time to celebrate a special milestone: the publication of our French Polynesia travel guide. After working hard on it for almost a year, we felt proud and decided to treat ourselves. We booked a 20-minute body scrub followed by a one-hour Abhyanga massage.

Once again, Arnaud and Nathalie gave us a warm welcome, and we slipped right back into the peaceful atmosphere. We changed for the much-talked-about scrub session. You may laugh because I was the one who made the booking, but I had no idea what a body scrub involved, haha. The massage therapists found that pretty funny. In any case, having my body massaged with a mixture of cane sugar, flower extracts, and citrus fruit felt really good.

After this invigorating treatment, we returned to the same room as before for a massage that was meant to be more energizing. I personally enjoyed the one-hour treatment, even though it was noticeably more intense. I felt great afterward.

We rounded off this lovely morning with lunch at Sunset B in Bouillante, and we thoroughly enjoyed it. The concept is simple and appealing: depending on the day’s fresh arrivals, there are two or three dishes to choose from, which makes the decision easy. We ordered the meat dish, a beef stew, and the fish dish, a court-bouillon, followed by two delicious desserts. We hadn’t eaten that well in a long time!

So, if you’re looking for a massage on the leeward coast, Parc aux Orchidées is well worth considering.

Here are a few practical details to keep in mind.

A range of treatments is available on-site. Check the official website for current durations and prices. Options include the Jacuzzi, body scrubs, reflexology, spa massages, treatments for pregnant women, and Lomi Lomi, Swedish, and Abhyanga massages. Individual and couples treatments are available, with massages currently starting at €60 per person.

As always, travel time depends on where you are starting from. From the southern part of Basse-Terre, allow about an hour by car, and roughly the same from the town of Basse-Terre when traffic is light. You can view the route here.

We haven’t stayed on-site yet, but it is certainly an option. Parc aux Orchidées has four fully equipped bungalows that sleep either two or four people. Please note that children under 12 are not accepted. We haven’t seen the bungalows ourselves, but they look pleasant, fairly simple, and reasonably priced.

You can book directly through this link!

If you’re in the area and decide to stay overnight, you’ll find plenty to do nearby, including:

Swimming at the beautiful beaches around Deshaies, such as La Perle, Grande Anse, and Petite Anse.
Hiking to Saut des Trois Cornes from Sainte-Rose.
When the weather is good, driving along the Route des Mamelles, which crosses the island from west to east. The vegetation is truly impressive and well worth the detour.
Exploring some of the area’s other walks and stops, including Saut d’Acomat, Mamelle Pigeon, Maison de la Forêt, and Cascade des Écrevisses.

That brings me to the end of this article. If the experience appeals to you, consider booking a massage at Parc aux Orchidées. We certainly enjoyed ours!

Written by Sylvain PONS

Since 2021, I've been living in the Guadeloupe archipelago with Mélanie and our two children. We are exploring these beautiful islands and discovering the treasures that we are happy to share with you!

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